Goya Black, Motherwell Black: Eighty Disasters and an Abyss
The San Telmo Museum presents an exhibition that brings into dialogue two works separated by more than a century, yet united by a shared reflection on violence, pain, and collective memory. The exhibition unites "The Disasters of War," the celebrated series of 80 prints by Francisco de Goya, with "Iberia," the monumental black canvas created in 1958 by Robert Motherwell.
- May 16 - September 27, 2026
- Openning hours and prices
- Exhibition Hall
Catalogue
The museum presents one of its recent acquisitions, Los desastres de la guerra (The Disasters of War), by Francisco de Goya, the series of 80 prints about the ferocious confrontations between Spaniards and Frenchmen during the Napoleonic occupation (1808-1814).
However, the work transcends this historical setting, and his shattering, explosive images have become a milestone in the history of human misery, echoing through the catastrophes of our time. For this reason, they represent a major landmark in modern art.
This is what gave rise to the idea to give a voice to Goya's aesthetic and moral bridge to the present day, by presenting it alongside a distinctive work that represents this continuity perfectly: Iberia, a large abstract canvas in black created by American expressionist Robert Motherwell in 1958, inspired by his first visit to Spain, on which he was in fact impressed by Goya's work. It is an "inscrutable" counterpoint to The Disasters, a symbol that condenses the echo of Goya's scenes. Thus, the visitor passes, within the room, from explicit violence to emotional intimacy, from harsh figuration to the most austere abstraction, from uproar to absolute silence.
Organisation and producton: San Telmo Museoa
Curator: María Bolaños
Credit for the first two images: Disasters of War, etching, Francisco de Goya, 1810-1823. 5th edition, 1923, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando. San Telmo Museum Collection
Guided tours and activities
The museum has organized guided tours and a conference link to the exhibition. Check the activities here (in spanish)
Resources
- Bibliography on the subject in the library of the San Telmo Museum
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People with visual impairments can download adapted versions of the exhibition texts to their mobile phones, thanks to the collaboration of the Begiris Association. Download the text in EnglishEnglish. (.doc)